Clutch



Nav. 21,1939. H, J DUNKLOW 2,180,403

CLUTCH Filed sept. 18. 1937 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT ori-ICE f Application September 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,431

2 Claims.

(ci. isz-es) My invention relates to clutches and more parspaced lugs, with the pairs being equally-spaced.

ticularly to those of the mechanically loaded type.

The principal object of my invention is to devise a clutch in which the clamping plate, actuating mechanism and adjusting device constitute a unit that is supported and drivably connected by studs to a rotary part which acts as a member of the clutch. lo A further object is to devise a 'clutch of the character indicated in which the clutch or operating levers are locked in driving position against inadvertent release and are held in release position by the extending action of release springs. l5 These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are effectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

2n In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved clutch taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the clutch, partly in section, as viewed along the line 2--2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Il) designates a flywheel which is generally representative of any rotary part that is interconnected 30 by the clutch mechanism presently described, and which, for convenience, will be `regarded as the driving member, although the conditions of operation in this respect may be reversed. 'I'he reduced portions of a plurality of driving studs 3;, II are equally spaced around the flywheel adjacent the periphery thereof, and extend through the wheel as generally indicated in Fig. 1. To the right of the ywheel, each stud is formed With an enlarged portion I2 which forms with the 0 portion I I a shoulder I3 that is held against the face I4 of the ywheel by a nut I5.

Each enlarged stud portion I2 extends through and has driving connection with a clamping plate I6 having a face I1 which, together with the fly- 45 wheel face I4, engages with lfacings of friction material I8 secured to opposite surfaces of a friction or driven plate I9 that is rotarily connected to a driven shaft 20, but which is capable of being moved axially with respect thereto. The-shaft .o 2Il constitutes the other rotary part which is interconnected by the clutch.

The shaft passes through a sleeve 2| which is integrally formed'with the clamping plate IB. On the outer or right face of the plate I6, as

.5 viewed in Fig. 1, is formed aplurality of pairs ofr circumferentially around the face of the plate I6. In the present instance, three such pairs ofl lugs are shown, although this number may be varied as desired. Between each pair of lugs 22 is piv- 5 otally mounted a bell crank Ilever 23 and one arm of each lever extends radially inward of the clutch and is provided with an elongated slot 24 within which operates a pin 25 carried by a lug '26 that is formed on an operating collar 21. This 10 collar encircles and is shiftable endwise along the sleeve 2l and may be provided with the usual trunnions 28 for engagement by any desired actuating means, such as a shifting fork (not shown).

The other arm of each lever 23 extends genl5 erally parallel to the axis of the shaft 20 and the extremity thereof carries a roller 29 which bears against an adjusting ring 30 that is threaded in a supporting ring 3| mounted on the extremities of the driving studs I I. The adjusting ring 3|! 20 carries a radially extending nger 32, preferably formed of springy material, which is intended to seat in any one of a number of recesses or slots 33 that are spaced around the supporting ring 3| in order to maintain the adjusted position of the 25 ring 30. The usual release springs 34 may be interposed between theface I4 ofthe flywheel and the base of pockets 35 provided in the clamping plate I6.

In Fig. 1, the clutch is shown in engaged posi- 30 tion and it will be particularly noted that the radial distance `of the pivot of the lever 23 from the axis of the shaft 20 is greater than the corresponding distance of the axis of the roller 29, or,l expressed in other words, the lever 23 has been 35 moved to an over-center position, thus locking the clutch in position. This locking is accentuated by the extending action of release springs 34.

To release the clutch, it is simply necessary to move the operating collar 21 toward the right 40 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 until the ,center of the roller 29 has moved outwardly a distance greater than the radial distance of the pivot of the lever 23 from the axis` of the shaft 20. The clamping plate IB will thereby be moved towards the right hand'and this release position of the plate, as well as of the levers 23, will bemaintained by the extending action of the springs 34. The levers 23 are also held in release position by centrifugal force under idling conditions. When the clutch is engaged, the operating collar 21 is moved towards the left from the position just described, thereby Icausing the roller 29 to bear against the adjusting .ring 30 and move the clamping plate I6 to grip the driven plate I9 be- 55 2 tween the faces .Il and l1 against the action of the release springs ll. The endwise shifting of the collar 21, as just described, is continued until it engages a shoulder 36 formed on the sleeve 2|, thus determining the over-center position of the levers 23 and preventing excessive overlock of Y the levers.

'I'he driving studs Il not only drivably con` nect the' clamping plate to the ilywheel and sup- 10 port this plate,'together'with the operating levers, but they also serve as a supporting agent for the adjusting mechanism of the clutch levers. As vthe friction facings I8 wear, suitable adjustment is effected by rotating the adjusting ring 3l, -since 15 the bell crank'levers 23 have a constant throw anditisnecessarytoaxiallyshiittheringl to compensate for the-axially shifted position of the levers. Generally speaking, the clutch is characterized by compactness of design, ease and 20 adjustment of operation, and particularly, by ease of attachment and detachment to and from the flywheel through the medium of the driving studs Il.

I claim:

25 1. In a clutch, the combination of a clamping the same.

2. In a clutch, the combination of a clamping plate having a tubular extension coaxial with the axis of the clutch, pin means adapted for mounting in a rotary part constituting one of the members of the clutch and having driving and supporting connection with the plate, an abutment member carried by the pin means, an operating lever pivoted on the plate and adapted to fulcrum on the member for shifting the plate to driving position, and a. collar shiitable' on the extension and having a part cooperable with the lever to actuate the same v HENRY J. DUNKELoW. 

